Early ASCO data drops from Roche, Jazz

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Today’s Big News

May 23, 2025

After Keytruda combo win, Gilead's Trodelvy meets the mark in solo breast cancer trial


Merus hails 'unprecedented' survival on solid tumor bispecific, sparking stock jump


ASCO: Roche details Itovebi's survival benefit in certain breast cancers, further backing blockbuster plan


ASCO: Roche, Jazz's Zepzelca small cell lung cancer win leaves room for improvement


Endometrial cancer data on Genmab’s Elahere rival beat forecast, fueling push into phase 3


Roche taps Broad Institute to test SBX sequencing in the clinic


Chutes & Ladders—Weight of market pressures pushes Novo CEO out

 

Featured

After Keytruda combo win, Gilead's Trodelvy meets the mark in solo breast cancer trial

In the ASCENT-03 trial, Gilead's Trodelvy bested chemotherapy at extending the time before disease worsening or death in certain patients with previously untreated metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. The results help pad the case for Trodelvy in first-line breast cancer following positive results for a Trodelvy-Keytruda cocktail in a similar indication last month.
 

Top Stories

Merus hails 'unprecedented' survival on solid tumor bispecific, sparking stock jump

Merus has reported a 79% 12-month survival rate in cancer patients on its bispecific antibody, cementing William Blair analysts' belief the candidate has a “best-in-disease profile.”

ASCO: Roche details Itovebi's survival benefit in certain breast cancers, further backing blockbuster plan

Itovebi, when added to Pfizer’s Ibrance and AstraZeneca’s Faslodex, cut the risk of death by 33% in a phase 3 trial of certain breast cancer patients.

ASCO: Roche, Jazz's Zepzelca small cell lung cancer win leaves room for improvement

Roche’s plan to bolster Tecentriq’s position in small cell lung cancer with Jazz Pharmaceuticals’ Zepzelca has paid off. But the pair’s success leaves room for improvement for future contenders.

Endometrial cancer data on Genmab’s Elahere rival beat forecast, fueling push into phase 3

Genmab has shared the first data on rinatabart sesutecan in advanced endometrial cancer. The biotech reported a 50% unconfirmed response rate, beating the expectations of William Blair analysts to boost confidence in the program ahead of its move into phase 3.

Roche taps Broad Institute to test SBX sequencing in the clinic

Roche tapped a subsidiary of the MIT and Harvard research center to apply sequencing-by-expansion tech in screening newborns and their parents.

Chutes & Ladders—Weight of market pressures pushes Novo CEO out

Under a mutual agreement with the board of directors, longtime Novo Nordisk CEO Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen—who recently shepherded the company through its GLP-1 growth boom—is heading for the exit.

Sanofi opens doors to $130M 'flagship' US office facility in New Jersey

Sanofi has officially opened its swanky new offices in Morristown, New Jersey, where nearly 2,000 employees recently relocated. The drugmaker invested $130 million in the new facility, which features flexible workspaces, wellness rooms, a public-facing restaurant and “the largest outdoor terrace space" in the state.

ASCO: Cullinan, Taiho unveil lung cancer data behind FDA application plans

Earlier this year, Cullinan said its lead candidate hit the bull's-eye in a midstage lung cancer cancer trial but stayed mum on the details. Now, the biotech is revealing the results that have prompted the company and partner Taiho Oncology to pursue an accelerated approval.

On the comeback trail, GSK's Blenrep scores thumbs up from Europe's CHMP

Europe’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended GSK's Blenrep for approval for patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. The nod was one of several decisions made by the committee this week.

Court extends block on HHS RIF after Trump's Supreme Court appeal

Recent lawsuits from nonprofits, state attorneys general, unions and local governments say the reorganizations and reductions in force imposed on federal agencies like the HHS were unconstitutional.

AstraZeneca, Zero Prostate Cancer rev up early detection push at Memorial Day weekend NASCAR races

AstraZeneca is putting the pedal to the metal to drive up early detection of prostate cancer.
 
Fierce podcasts

Don’t miss an episode

'The Top Line': A Fierce breakdown of the 'most favored nation' executive order

This week on "The Top Line," Fierce Pharma breaks down President Donald Trump’s executive order targeting drug prices and what it could mean for the industry as broader policy shifts unfold.

 

Resources

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Accelerating Clinical Trial Excellence: A Seamless IRB & IBC Collaboration

Don’t delay your gene transfer trial’s start-up timeline by gaining the latest insights from WCG’s case study on the power of a seamless Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) review process.
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SpyLock Technology: A cutting-Edge Solution for Rapid Bispecific Antibody Screening

Learn how the SpyLock service can offer fast bispecific generation, reduce workload, and accelerate candidate selection.
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Best Practice Medical Affairs Organization Study Report

We interviewed 24 Medical Affairs leaders on the critical success factors for building a Best Practice Medical Affairs organization. This report shares what we learned.
 

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